uh oh... here come the cavalry
 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4749357.stm

If you have the bandwidth the secrets of the sands documentary is also worth a listen

[This message has been edited by Richard K (edited 08 August 2005).]

Fascinating... especially, for me, this piece "He says convincing the US of a terrorist threat in the Sahara has allowed the Algerians to shake off their pariah status and to obtain previously withheld military equipment from the US.".

again, there might be terrorists... But for sure somewhere there is oil, and thats why cavalry is there!

Well spotted Richard - very interesting.

Ch

And of course a head of state is a legitimate head of state regardless of how he got there (corrupt elections, elimination of opposition, coup etc.) once he agrees to sell the black stuff to...
This purchased legitimacy is then used to invite the cavalry in to eliminate any possible further opposition or minority groups under the premise that they were terrorists...
I believe that Ould Taya has already been accused of this, But he's history and someone else will get their hands on Mori's oil money.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4137434.stm

Summary:

"So we still get the oil and the bases, right? That's OK then."

Once the black stuff starts to flow and the marines arrive in force (with the bonafide Jihadists soon after) it could be very bad news for the Sahel region. I suspect the route-planning on this site will be very different too.

Then again, perhaps I'm just being a pessimist? Now where did I see that nice 2nd hand compressor...

Good point - the kidnappers probably were pious muslims, but no extreme salafists. Their way through Mali, Niger to Chad, the incidents and the "arrest" by Chadian rebels with a French TV interview a perfect show.

Algeria "won" the war against real islamists in the 90ies by infiltration of the armed groups and paid a heavy price - between 100,000 and 200,000 deaths...the level of what is acceptable there is, let's say, "very different" - do not think of anything to be "too dirty" in that region.

Regards,
Peter

www.flashpoints.net have a little piece on all this:

"the junta in Mauritania will keep close ties with Israel as well as the United States, which sent 1,000 troops or more to the oil-rich nation for the biggest US military exercise in Africa since WWII; but military and other operations in northern Africa are literally bringing the camel dung to hit American fans, courtesy of the trans-Atlantic Saharan dust storms"

More on the 'Wed 10th Aug' show or at:
http://www.kpfa.org/cgi-bin/gen-mpeg...10-Wed1700.mp3

So where is there left for us to go and play?
Greenlaning in the drizzle just isn't the same thing.

It's a big desert ;-)

Ch

Yes, but Chris, even you, with all your experience and pre-planning and fuel and water drops, found it very difficult and hard going off the beaten track. What about the rest of us mere mortals?

I for one wish the bloody yanks would butt out and stop trying to police the world under the guise of "The War against Terrorism".

Sorry for the rant, but ongoing news like this really annoys me.

Peter

"The War against Terrorism" equals 'the war for black stuff' unfortunalely. And sice we all are using it, we all are a bit quilty of this war...


Yes, but Chris, even you, with all your experience and pre-planning and fuel and water drops, found it very difficult and hard going off the beaten track. What about the rest of us mere mortals?

I for one wish the bloody yanks would butt out and stop trying to police the world under the guise of .

Sorry for the rant, but ongoing news like this really annoys me.

Peter</font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Ok we're guilty of using it, if you don't consume you're no longer a worthy citizen.
Once upon a time some of the money you paid to fill up went to the people who ran the petrol station, and on into the community.

I get the impression there are people who want to stop that...

I for one will feel LESS safe wearing a white skin (not that I can choose) and speaking english in a country where GWB has started meddling (thank heavens I can pass for a French person in Africa).

Gaining control of so many oil rich countries is either an attempt to reduce the stranglehold that Saudi has on the US economy or a panicked reaction to the "breaking" news that it's drying up, and fast.

The oil companies have persuaded the governments in question to "INVEST" taxpayer's money in ensuring we can still drive to work (and delocalize manufacturing to cheap countries) through war rather than alternative fuel research!

(War employs/gets rid of more people which looks good on the figures in the next re-election campagn.

Sorry, not very Sahara but I had to get it off my chest.
Luke

Kaspars,

Some of us use more of the black stuff than the rest. Accidentally it is the same "some of us" who are telling the rest of us that if we do not join the war on terror we will be guilty of relenting to terrorism and hence undermining their way of life, which is based on using more of the black stuff than the rest of us.

What do you expect of a world dominated by one superpower? And please don't forget that this superpower has won the cold war also because its wasteful lifestyle was more appealing to the working classes than the frugal existence under communism.



[This message has been edited by Roman (edited 19 August 2005).]

In case anyone is overcome with guilt: two people driving transafrica in a diesel car will burn less fuel per person than if they flew in a fully-seated 737.

Of course, when the lean-burning A380 takes off it's time to think about a kite buggy, or a nice hair shirt.

; )

[This message has been edited by Richard K (edited 19 August 2005).]

"In case anyone is overcome with guilt: two people driving transafrica in a diesel car will burn less fuel per person than if they flew in a fully-seated 737."

I meet two hardcore environmentalists from South Africa in Morocco that I liked and respected. We travelled together for a few weeks and they said basically they same thing taking into account there were more people on their plane than in my landy.

Their year long trip through Africa, including 5 flights (two because of Malaria) was far worse than my 27,000km trip over 6 months in my landy.

Us humans are a virus on the planet and the sooner we eradicate ourselves the better. Or perhaps we should just slow our destruction down as much as possible... ;-)


[This message has been edited by dj@roamingyak.org (edited 19 August 2005).]

Part 2 of that BBC doc is online now - about 22 mins:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programme...ve/4138200.stm
(click top right)

It's set mostly in Kidal (far north Mali) where one hears they are trying to suppress the age-old smuggling trade - that will go down well on a town which gets 90% of its stuff from Alg. It has to be said that the chilling callous last word by the US Senegal ambassador at the very end achieves the producer's desired effect...

But in my opinion desert tourism is a privilege, not a right - our desert playground is a place where poor people live, oppressed by their governments who themselves are manipulated by superpowers. We should not complain too much.

If travel to some areas becomes restricted, that's the way it’s been across Africa for years, tourism and trade finds a way through, just as the Atlantic route developed when Algeria closed up in the 1990s.

Or tourists find another way to travel in places where unguided roaming is no longer possible, using local guides and/or their vehicles. I say again, it is a big desert and - among other things – is only restricted by your imagination. My interest has always been in the wilderness, not so much how I get there or get around. I am lining up a great private trip in Alg this winter - free of vehicle prep and all that goes with it. We'll be able to sit back, get fed and enjoy the desert for what it is - an amazing place!

Since I first got into the Sahara, Mauritania, Libya and the Gilf have all opened up.
Lately some places have become restricted for overlanders (Alg, Lib), or remain relatively unappealing (Tun, north Mali) or remain unsafe just like they always were (Tibesti), or have the potential to become unsafe by US-led activities (Sahara!) - but we are in a kind of 3rd world war after all so enjoy it while you can!

Ch

Any kind souls out there who can mail me a copy? B band virtually unknown in South Africa.
Would apprecialte it
Jim

3 Bamboo Lane
Hout Bay
7806
South Africa

Thanks to whoever the kind soul is who mailed me a copy! Cant make out who you are, but thanks!
Jim

The Old Adage
"Africa is not for wussies" still stands. Being a pale skinned african I always was filled with wonder thinking what an exciting age of exploration my grandfather and his father lived and explored through. Visions of my father tracking a wounded buffalo for days on septic feet with unceasing diahrea humbles me to the very core. These visions of a fronteer lifestyle of danger and adventure are still strong in todays Africa.
It seems a strange irony that political manipulation, natural disaster and war are required to maintain africa as dangerously beautiful as it always has been.Just as farm land needs to lie fallow to regain it's fertility parts of africa rid themself of unwanted guests for a few years crucial years before again becoming anglicised.

Just a thought.